St. Thomas More Cathedral School

• Message from the President
• Drop off and Pick Up procedures with STM dismissal form link.
• Boohoo/Yahoo Breakfast
• Chick Fil A Lunch
• PTO Volunteer Opportunities
• Race for Education
• Save the Dates
• Uniforms
• 2023/2024 PTO Board

(Looks to the left and right...dances a happy dance). Wooooohoooo!

What a kickoff! Fabulous Friday has come and gone and it was wonderful to see everyone again! As much as we had a blast, it is back to school with these kids. I cannot wait to see your beautiful students hop out during drop off and run to their friends. I know all of mine are chomping at the bit to see old friends and make some new ones.

As we transition to the school year, this space because highlight of the week AND a notice of upcoming events. Please keep an eye out so that you are in the know.

If you have events to be included here, please let me know by Wednesday of each week.

I hope to meet a lot of you virtually on September 5 at the next PTO meeting. We will post a link via the STM calendar/Facebook Parent Group, and this space.

Just a gentle reminder (I'm looking at my own spouse) that we need to model patience during the first few weeks of drop and pick up. With construction and the exponential activity in the Cathedral parking lot, it is going to be BUSY.

So let's together breathe in and out, grip the wheel, and say a silent prayer for patience. Seriously.

Students will be together on the blacktop between 7:40am and 8am during arrival and enter the building with their teacher and classmates after the Pledge of Allegiance. At dismissal, all students will be led to the parking lot at 3:15pm. There will be first pick-up and then second unofficial "dismissal" around 3:25.

Ensure you read the full PDF of procedures if this is your first time - plenty of people will be there to help and guide you.

If you need to change how your children are picked up, please use this dismissal form by 2:30 pm.

Tears of joy or tears of sorrow? Whatever mood you’re feeling, stop by and visit with us on your child's first day of school. Drop your kid(s) off in the arrival line, park in the Cathedral parking lot and walk over to school. Please check in at the front office and join us in the cafeteria to celebrate the first day of school.

August 28: 1st through 8th Grade

August 29: Pre K through K

See the link below to register and pay for CFA lunches through December 2023. Another link will be sent out in December for Pizza lunch for the second half of the school year.

https://payit.nelnet.net/form/IqFTyInN

September 8

September 15

September 22

September 29

October 13

October 20

November 3

November 17

December 1

December 8

December 15

I would not be a good PTO board member if I didn’t advocate for leaders within our school community. Currently, we have needs for the following roles:

1. STM Auction Chair (s) – the biggest event and fundraiser of the school year, this is your chance to organize the biggest party. More information to follow soon!
2. STM Fund Liaison – a new position where a parent or group of parents meet with Parish staff to begin the ramp up of fundraising through the Parish.
3. Room Parents - truly the spokes in the wheel from parents to teachers in any school year. These volunteers work closely with the teachers on immediate needs and upcoming activities.

Are you looking to get more involved in our STM community and connect with families in your child’s class? Consider helping as a Room Parent during the 2023-24 School Year. Room Parents serve a valuable role in the STM Community and support our wonderful teachers and staff. Room Parents help organize classroom events and performances, and communicate information from the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to the families in their class. This role typically has two parents serving per class – sharing the workload throughout the year.

If you are interested, please use the sign-up genius link here. You will sign up in a slot specific to your child’s teacher (with two slots available for each teacher and one for our Nurse’s office and Library). Please email the PTO Room Parent Coordinator (Allison Nicholson) at STMRoomParentCoordinators@gmail.com with any additional questions.

*As a reminder, all volunteers must be VIRTUS trained to volunteer at school events, including field trips*

The annual Race for Education is STM's primary fundraiser which helps enhance the educational environment for your children. We strive to support the educational needs of the student body in various ways, such as providing textbooks, school supplies, and learning devices, but recognize that there is always more we can do.

The Race for Education has funded past initiatives such as tents to provide outdoor learning spaces during COVID; soundproofing for the gym to reduce noise levels and increase opportunities for community gatherings; and holiday bonuses to support our amazing faculty and staff.

FUNDRAISING GOAL: $85,000

PROJECT GOALS:

1. ENHANCE SCHOOL SECURITY
- Replace Thomas St. Doors and Door #2

- Launch Phase 1 of Classroom Door Replacement

2. TEACHER SUPPORT

- Continue to support holiday bonuses for faculty

STM Calendar

• August 26, 2023: Rising Kindergarten Social
• August 26, 2023: Rising 8th Grade Social
• August 26, 2023: Preschool Social
• August 28, 2023: first day of school for 1st thru 8th grade. Boohoo/Yahoo Breakfast tailgate available for parents.
• August 29, 2023: first day of school for kindergarten. Boohoo/Yahoo Breakfast tailgate available for parents.
• September 1, 2023: Early Dismissal with no extended day
• September 4, 2023: Labor Day Holiday
• September 5, 2023: PTO September Meeting
• September 13, 2023: Back to School Night
• September 20, 2023: Parent Wine and Cheese Mixer (everyone is invited)

***Note: PTO Board Meetings (beginning in September)– anyone is welcome to attend AND you receive 1 hour of volunteer participation time for attendance. Plus you know all the details (usually the first Tuesday of every month). We will work on a mix of in person and hybrid meetings so that you all can participate.

Retail locations to purchase new uniforms can found here:

1. Flynn & O’Hara (650-19 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22031)

2. Robcyns (3660 King Street, Alexandria VA 22302)

3. Land’s End (Preferred School Number: 900077975) - PE Uniforms Only

President - Kristen Wright

President-Elect - Katie Burch

Secretary - Allison Rabin

Treasurer - Hannah Maloney

Vice President of Fundraising - Wege (Mimi) Kifle

Vice President of Events - Sara Harrington

At-Large CYO - Cesar Enriquez

At-Large PK -8th - Genevieve Kelly

At-Large DI - Jennifer McIntyre

At- Large Room Parent - Allison Nicholson

Email: stmptopresident@gmail.com
Website: https://www.stmschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1649633&type=d&pREC_ID=1792214
Location: 105 North Thomas Street, Arlington, VA, USA
Phone: 703-528-6781